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Left in the Fog
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One big foggie flattie for “Addiction’s” Scottie and Steve. |
Well Mates, if'in ya been out on the waters these past few weeks some of ya may have found yer'selves in a fog. Now we ain't talking about any ole fog. We be speaking about stuff ya can cut wit a knife. The Captain here took one of his mates, Kirk, outside the breakwall for a quick look see on one of the local Halibut holes whil'st the fog was out.
I tell me mate that we better check the compass and take some readings just in case the fog moves back in on us. I sez, when we get to where we was, "You keep yer eye on that yonder spar pole so we don't loose our bearings." I'm soaking a sardine, looking down at the water for sump'tin to happen. That's when Kirk sez, "Hey Captain where's that pole you was telling me to watch?" Well, just that quick, that fog had moved in and it was thicker than molasses. We couldn't even see the bow of the boat! Aarggg, sez The Captain!
I tells him, "Now is the time to see if those bearings work." We set a return heading for the Redondo Harbor and go reel slow... I'm thinking if this reading ain't rite we'll be in the shipping lanes playing ping pong wit a tanker. We set the waves at our backs and stay with the compass. In Califrisco it is a must that the sea going folks always keep a good compass with them at all times, NO MATTER WHAT!
To our good fortune, the compass was correct and we found ourselves only 20 feet from the breakwall opening. But, that ain't the half of it! Once we get inside the harbor, the fog is still too thick to tell where you was. I forgot to get a harbor reading for the fuel dock. Kirk sez, “Now what Cap?" I sez, "Look, I can smell the bait barge from a 100 yards. If we get that far without running into sum'tin, we can make it from there. Going slow, in three minutes, there was that smelly barge filled to the brim with pelicans; who was smarter than us for staying put!
We're now following the Portofino breakwall north when out of the fog comes the Harbor Patrol. They're on their way out to herd in the other lost souls still outside. When we round the corner to the fuel dock, would'nt ya know it, the fog lifts just enough to read the Beer and Ice sign in the window. Kirk yells, "We're saved! Now, pull in so's we can get some of that." We did and we was the happiest two dummies ya ever did see in a boat.
The next day, me other mates, Captain Steve Helm and Scott Haugenes, a couple of New York transplants, want to go out in that pee soup fishing; that fog still as thick as ever. I tell'em, "Don't end up like I did, I'm staying put!" Out they go, on their 25' boat “Addiction” as the fog begins to lift.
In a couple of hours, they is back; wit the fog chasing them. However, they have smiles from ear to ear; caus'in they have a 25-pound Halibut. That's one pound for every foot of that boat!! AArg...
The fog, now is thick as a blanket, is sitting on the entire harbor. Off, into the fog, Steve and Scott disappear with their big flattie. And, we have the picture to prove it!
As for the rest of us fishing types, the Cod fishing and catching is as good as ever up and down the whole coast from Frisco to Diego. The Halibut, well, ya got'ta work for those babies. However, there is good counts of Sand Bass. The fresh water boys are still getting them trout on the lakes that have them and Catfish.
Keep sending yer fish pictures and fish tales to Captain Jack, C/O the Easyreader, P.O. Box 4277, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 or Email, easyreader@earthlink.net ER